White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Tuesday that President Donald Trump's tweets should be taken as official statements, NBC News reported. This contradicts other White House officials who have recently dialed back on the importance of the tweets.

"The president is president of the United States," Spicer said. "So they are considered official statements by the president of the United States."

Trump's Twitter usage has been a cornerstone of his presidency, offering a window into his thinking, sometimes at the expense of his administration's messaging. Despite bipartisan complaints about his continued 140-character habit, Trump has persisted in making his views known on social media.